Blueberry plant named &#39;MG11543-23-004&#39;

ABSTRACT

The new blueberry plant variety ‘MG11543-23-004’ is provided. ‘MG11543-23-004’ is a commercial variety intended for the fresh fruit market. The variety is produced from a cross of ‘Brigitta’ (seed parent, not patented) and ‘Ridley 1403’ (pollen parent, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,432), which can be distinguished by its outstanding features.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/762,835 filed on May 22, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as though fully set forth.

Latin name of the genus and species: Genus—VacciniumSpecies—hybrid.

Variety denomination: The new blueberry plant claimed is of the variety denominated ‘MG11543-23-004’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The proposed new variety of the denomination ‘MG11543-23-004’ was selected as a seedling from a controlled pollination involving northern and southern highbush varieties ‘Brigitta’ (seed parent) (not patented) and ‘Ridley 1403’ (pollen parent) (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,432) respectively. The cross was made in 2011 in Moondarra, Victoria, Australia and the variety was selected in 2015 in Moondarra, Victoria, Australia. The plants of ‘MG11543-23-004’ are strong and vigorous with an upright to whippy growth habit. The fruit is medium to large, with a crunchy texture and a moderate bloom and good flavour.

This new cultivar has been asexually propagated through softwood cuttings since 2016 and grown in replicated field trials from 2017 in Moondarra, Victoria, Australia.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The proposed new Vaccinium hybrid cultivar ‘MG11543-23-004’ was a selection resulting from a cross between northern and southern highbush varieties ‘Brigitta’ (seed parent) (not patented) and ‘Ridley 1403’ (pollen parent) (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,432) respectively.

The seed parent ‘Brigitta’ was produced from open pollinated ‘Lateblue’ seeds sent to the Knoxfield Horticultural Research Institute in Victoria, Australia in 1976, and was selected based on its vigorous growth, medium sized berry, mid-season fruit ripening and medium to firm fruit firmness.

The pollen parent ‘Ridley 1403’ was produced from a southern highbush seedling selection of ‘S02-25-05’ (unpatented) and pollen parent ‘S03-08-02’ (unpatented) and was selected in 2008 at Lindendale, New South Wales, Australia with the criteria of strong plant vigor, early-mid fruit ripening, very large fruit size and very firm/crunchy fruit texture.

The proposed new Vaccinium hybrid cultivar ‘MG11543-23-004’ was the product of a controlled cross pollination between northern highbush variety ‘Brigitta’ and southern highbush variety ‘Ridley 1403’ in the breeding program at Moondarra, Victoria, Australia in 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the proposed new variety ‘MG11543-23-004’ by cutting propagation has occurred since 2016 at Moondarra, Victoria, Australia. This has demonstrated that the new variety is uniform, stable and true to type over successive generations of asexual propagation in respect to the aforementioned characteristics.

The proposed new Vaccinium hybrid cultivar ‘MG11543-23-004’ was a single plant selection from a population of seedlings grown from a cross between northern highbush variety ‘Brigitta’ and southern highbush variety ‘Ridley 1403’ in the controlled breeding program at Moondarra, Victoria, Australia, selected in 2015. The selection of ‘MG11543-23-004’ was based upon strong plant vigor, very crunchy fruit with good flavor and a medium to large berry size. ‘MG11543-23-004’ was under the breeder code NB-23-4 during field trial evaluations from 2017.

The following characteristics of the proposed new variety have been observed and used to distinguish ‘MG11543-23-004’ as a distinct cultivar of Vaccinium hybrid:

-   Upright/whippy growth habit. -   Mid-season timing of fruit ripening. -   Strong plant vigor. -   Medium to large berry size. -   Small, dry picking scar -   Crunchy berry texture. -   Low to moderate sweetness. -   Strong bloom.

The proposed new variety ‘MG11543-23-004’ is uniform, stable and true to type over successive generations of asexual propagation through softwood cuttings in respect to the characteristics aforementioned.

The new cultivar ‘MG11543-23-004’ differs from the pollen parent ‘Ridley 1403’ in exhibiting an expected higher tolerance to cold, smaller berry size, later flowering and a higher acid flavor.

‘MG11543-23-004’ differs from the seed parent ‘Brigitta’ in respect to a larger berry size, stronger bloom, an expected lower tolerance to cold climates and a crunchier berry texture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic illustration shows typical specimens in full color of the foliage and fruit of the new variety ‘MG11543-23-004.’ The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type. The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the photographic and printing technology utilized. The color values cited in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the new blueberry.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the new variety ‘MG11543-23-004’, demonstrating the plant's compact growth habit.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of the new variety ‘MG11543-23-004’, demonstrating the plant's fruit.

FIG. 3 is a photograph of the new variety ‘MG11543-23-004’, demonstrating the plant's flowers.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘MG11543-23-004’. The data which defines these characteristics was collected from asexual reproductions of the original selection. Dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are approximations and averages set forth as accurately as possible. The plant history was taken on plants approximately 3 years of age, and the descriptions relate to plants grown in the field in Moondarra, Victoria, Australia. Descriptions of fruit characteristics were made on fruit grown in Moondarra, Victoria, Australia. Color designations are from Panton Colour Bridge Plus.

-   Classification:     -   -   a. Family.—Ericaceae.         -   b. Genus.—Vaccinium.         -   c. Species.—Hybrid.         -   d. Common name.—Blueberry. -   Parentage: Female Parent — ‘Brigitta.’ (not patented). Male Parent —     ‘Ridley 1403’ (U.S. Pat. No.25,432). -   Market class: A fruiting plant intended for the fresh fruit market.

PLANT

-   General:     -   -   a. Parentage.—‘Brigitta’ x ‘Ridley1403’.         -   b. Plant height.—˜1.1 m.         -   c. Plant width.—0.5-0.6 m.         -   d. Growth habit.—Upright/whippy.         -   e. Growth.—Medium to strong vigor.         -   f. Productivity.—Medium to high (˜7.6 kg/plant).         -   g. Cold hardiness.—Not tested.         -   h. Cold tolerance.—Not tested.         -   i. Chilling requirement.—Expected to be moderate to high.         -   j. Tolerance to disease.—Not tested.         -   k. Leafing.—Moderate-strong.         -   l. Twigginess.—Low-moderate.

STEM

-   General:     -   -   a. Suckering tendency.—4-6 no. canes per plant.         -   b. Mature cane color.—197C/164B-165D.         -   c. Mature cane length.—0.6-0.75 m.         -   d. Mature cane width.—9 cm.         -   e. Bark texture.—Medium roughness.         -   f. Fall color on new shoots.—N/A.         -   g. Surface texture of new wood.—Smooth.         -   h. Internode length on strong, new shoots.—20-26 mm.         -   i. Fruiting wood.—To 17 cm in length.

FOLIAGE

-   General:     -   -   a. Time of beginning of leaf bud burst.—Early (12^(th))             September.         -   b. Leaf color (top side).—135B/137A.         -   c. Leaf color (under side).—146C/145B.         -   d. Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.         -   e. Leaf shape.—Elliptic.         -   f. Leaf margins.—Entire.         -   g. Undulation of margin.—Weak.         -   h. Leaf venation.—Reticulate.         -   i. Leaf apices.—Acute.         -   j. Leaf bases.—Obtuse.         -   k. Leaf length.—65-70 mm.         -   l. Leaf width.—33-35 mm.         -   m. Leaf length/width ratio.—Medium.         -   n. Leaf nectarines.—Absent.         -   o. Pubescence of upper side.—Absent.         -   p. Pubescence of lower side.—Absent.         -   q. Cross sectional profile.—Flat.         -   r. Longitudinal profile.—Straight.         -   s. Attitude.—Semi-upright. -   Petioles:     -   -   a. Length.—4 mm.         -   b. Width.—1-2 mm.         -   c. Color.—Yellow-Green 144C/145A.

FLOWERS

-   General:     -   -   a. Time of beginning of flowering.—15^(th) September.         -   b. Time of 50% anthesis.—Late September/early October.         -   c. Flower shape.—Urceolate.         -   d. Flower bud density.—Low to moderate.         -   e. Flower fragrance.—Weak. -   Corolla:     -   -   a. Color.—N/A.         -   b. Length.—11-12 mm.         -   c. Width.—6-7 mm.         -   d. Aperture width.—4 mm.         -   e. Anthocyanin coloration of corolla.—Absent.         -   f. Corolla ridges.—Present.         -   g. Protrusion of stigma.—Absent. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   a. Length.—25-33 mm.         -   b. Diameter.—20-24 mm.         -   c. Length of peduncle.—7-8 mm.         -   d. Surface texture of peduncle.—Smooth.         -   e. Color of peduncle.—146C.         -   f. Length of pedicel.—6 mm.         -   g. Surface texture of pedicel.—Smooth.         -   h. Color of pedicel.—370CP.         -   i. Number of flowers per cluster.—4-5.         -   j. Flower cluster density.—Light to moderate. -   Calyx (with sepals):     -   -   a. Diameter.—7-8 mm.         -   b. Color (sepals).—140B/143C. -   Stamen:     -   -   a. Length.—8-9 mm.         -   b. Number per flower.—9-10.         -   c. Filament color.—142C.         -   d. Style length.—7 mm.         -   e. Color.—145B. -   Style:     -   -   a. Length.—7 mm.         -   b. Color.—145B. -   Pistil:     -   -   a. Length.—9 mm.         -   b. Ovary color (exterior).—137A/146A. -   Anther:     -   -   a. Length.—4 mm.         -   b. Number.—9-10.         -   c. Color.—164A/N163C. -   Pollen:     -   -   a. Abundance.—N/A.         -   b. Color.—N/A.         -   c. Self-compatibility.—Yes.

FRUIT

-   General:     -   -   a. Time of fruit ripening.—Mid.         -   b. Time of 50% maturity.—Mid November.         -   c. Fruit development period.—Approximately 70 days.         -   d. Cluster density.—˜23 berries per cluster.         -   e. Unripe fruit color.—140B.         -   f. Ripe berry color.—203 C.         -   g. Berry surface wax abundance.—Strong.         -   h. Berry flesh color.—145C/D.         -   i. Berry weight.—3.2 g.         -   j. Berry height from calyx to scar.—11-12 mm.         -   k. Berry diameter.—16-17 mm.         -   l. Berry shape.—Oblate.         -   m. Fruit stem scar.—Small/dry.         -   n. Sweetness when ripe.—Low-medium.         -   o. Firmness when ripe.—Firm.         -   p. Acidity when ripe.—Medium.         -   q. Storage quality.—Good.         -   r. Suitability for mechanical harvesting.—N/A.         -   s. Self-fruitfulness.—Yes.         -   t. Uses.—Fresh fruit.

SEED

-   General:     -   -   a. Seed abundance in fruit.—Low-medium.         -   b. Seed color.—N/A.         -   c. Seed dry weight.—N/A.         -   d. Seed length.—1 mm.

COMPARISON BETWEEN PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

‘Ridley 1403’ ‘MG11543-23- (U.S. Pat. No. ‘Ridley 1812 Organ Context 004’ 25,432) (not patented) Plant Vigour Medium to Strong Medium strong Plant Growth habit Upright Upright to semi- Upright upright One-year-old Color Green Green Green shoot One-year-old Length of internode Short to medium Medium Medium shoot Leaf Length Long Long to very long Long to very long Leaf Width Medium tobroad Broad Broad Leaf Shape Elliptic Elliptic Elliptic Leaf Color of upper side Green Green Green Leaf Intensity of green color on Dark Medium Medium upper side (varieties with green leaf colour only) Leaf Margin Entire Entire Entire Flower bud Anthocyanin coloration Weak to medium Weak Weak Flower Shape of corolla Urceolate Urceolate Urceolate Flower Size of corolla tube Mediumn Medium to large Medium Flower Anthocyanin coloration of Absent to very Absent to very Absent to very corolla tube weak weak weak Flower Ridges on corolla tube Present Present Present Fruit cluster Density Sparse to Medium to dense Medium medium Unripe fruit Intensity of green color Medium Light Light Fruit Size Medium to large Very large Very large Fruit Shape in longitudinal Oblate Round Oblate section Fruit Attitude of sepals Erect to semi- Erect Erect erect Fruit Diameter of calyx basin Medium Large Large to very large Fruit Depth of calyx basin Shallow Deep Deep to very deep Fruit Intensity of bloom Strong Medium Medium Fruit Color of skin Dark blue Dark blue Dark blue Fruit Firmness Firm Very firm Medium Fruit Sweetness Medium High Medium to high Fruit Acidity Low Low Medium to high Time of Vegetative bud burst Early to medium Early Medium Time of Beginning of flowering Early to medium Early Early Time of Beginning of fruit ripening Medium Early Early-medium 

1. A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant named ‘MG11543-23-004’, substantially as illustrated and described herein. 